Search for

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Celtis adolfi-friderici Trade Name African celtis Family Name Ulmaceae Common Names African celtis, Asable, Atako, Ba, Baa-biri, Bunyoro, Celtis, Diana engo, Diania, Dunki, Ekembe bakaswa, Engo, Esa, Esa biri, Esa kosua, Esa pia, Esa-biri, Esa-kokobin, Esa-kosua, Esa-pie, Fusa, Gombi, Hackberry, Isa kukubin, Isa nkesua, Isa pie, Isamere, Ita, Itako, Kiliakamba, Killiakamba, Kolohonfe, Lohonfe, Lokonfi, Mboul, Mrinde, Mrunde, Odu, Odu elias, Ohia, Ohia nagumu, Toro, Yisa kukubin, Yisa nkesua, Yisamere, Yisapie, Zuwo Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building materials, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Crossties, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Hockey sticks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Skis, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tool handles, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Secure in many areas of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center The species is classified as Rare or at risk of becoming endangered in Uganda and is Vulnerable in the Ivory Coast. Its status in Central African Republic, Ghana, Sudan, and Zaire is currently listed as unknown because of inadequate information Distribution Overview Grows extensively in the semi-deciduous, moist dense forests and transition zones in Africa, from the Ivory Coast in the west to Tanzania in the south-east. Heartwood Color White Yellow Red Green/grey Orange Brown White to cream Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink The heartwood is white or pale yellow when freshly cut, turning grayish white upon exposure and with age. Some logs are affected by a greenish discoloration around the core. Sapwood Color Red Yellow White Same as heartwood White to yellow Grain Straight Figure Even Interlocked Irregular Straight Irregular Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Pronounced Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable The heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present The timber is susceptible to most forms of insect attack, and is also liable to blue-stain Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change None Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Slight end splitting Slight cupping Timber must be kiln-dried carefully to avoid splitting and distortion Ease of Drying Slowly Rapidly Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 50-60 m Bole length is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Product Sources Primary sources of Celtis timber are the Ivory Coast and Ghana. Although production is limited at present, it can be increased to meet demand since the species is relatively abundant and covers a wide area. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Carving Good carving qualities Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Stable Small Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Planing Difficult to plane A 15 degree reduction in cutting angle is recommended in working material with irregular grain. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Slight dulling effect on cutting edges Good response Difficult to machine Screwing Pre-Boring is recommended in screwing Difficult to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = mediun Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Teak, White oak, and Hard maple have high crushing strength. The wood has high density. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10629 16789 psi Density 45 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2318 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5462 8631 psi Shearing Strength 1807 psi Stiffness 1608 1878 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.59 Weight 47 44 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 747 1180 kg/cm2 Density 721 kg/m3 Hardness 1051 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 384 606 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 127 kg/cm2 Stiffness 113 132 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.59 Weight 753 705 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Boas, I.H.,1947,The Commercial Timbers of Australia - Their Properties and Uses,Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Fernando, X.M.,1956,Notes on Ceylon Timbers,Ceylon Forester (N.S.,2(3,pp131-8 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London ITTO. New Marketable Species Technical Notes. Prepared by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-marne Cedex, France Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1 Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Maeglin, R., C. K. Baah, G. Troemmer, J. D. Danielson, and S. P. Loehnertz. 1989. Pre-project Report: Sawing of Difficult Species. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of Africa Woods 2,Tropical Woods 16(106) pp65-97 Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons